Well cap and seal therefor

ABSTRACT

A cap and conductor seal arrangement for a well having a tubular well casing with an upper portion extending out of the ground. A circular casing flange is eccentrically joined preferably by welding to the upper portion of the well casing and has an opening therethrough the same diameter as the inside of the well casing and aligned therewith. The casing flange has a conductor opening located beyond the radius of said opening. A circular cap member having a flange thereon adapted for mating engagement with the casing flange is provided. The joint between the flanges is hermetically sealed by an O-ring sealing member mounted in a circular groove in the casing flange. A conductor housing attached to said casing flange and the well casing is provided. The conductors approach the well in a conduit, enter on a slant through an aperture in the bottom of the conductor housing, pass through a conductor seal and continue upwardly on a curved path through said conductor opening then over the top of the well casing and down into the well to electrical power to a submersible pump or other equipment therein and air and/or water passages for control and measurement purposes.

United States Patent Baker 5] Feb. 29, 1972 [54] WELL CAP AND SEAL THEREFOR John Gordon Baker, Evansville, Wis.

Baker Manufacturing Company, Evansville, Wis.

22 Filed: May11,1970

211 Appl.No.: 37,405

[72] Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 793,453, Jan. 23, 1967,

abandoned.

[52] U.S.Cl ..166/75, 166/88 [5 1] Int. Cl ..F2lb 33/03 [58] FieldofSeai-ch ..166/7S,85,88; 138/89 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,793,699 5/1959 Tubbs ...l66/75 2,877,849 3/1959 Morrison et a1. ...166/75 3,095,928 7/1963 Morrison et al. 166/75 Primary Examiner-James A. Leppink Att0rneyJohn W. Michael, Gerrit D. Foster, Bayard H.

Michael, Paul R. Puemer, Joseph A. Gemignani, Andrew 0. Riteris and Spencer B. Michael [57] ABSTRACT A cap and conductor seal arrangement for a well having a tubular well casing with an upper portion extending out of the ground. A circular casing flange is eccentrically joined preferably by welding to the upper portion of the well casing and has an opening therethrough the same diameter as the inside of the well casing and aligned therewith. The casing flange has a conductor opening located beyond the radius of said opening. A circular cap member having a flange thereon adapted for mating engagement with the casing flange is provided. The joint between the flanges is hermetically sealed by an O-ring sealing member mounted in a circular groove in the casing flange. A conductor housing attached to said casing flange and the well casing is provided. The conductors approach the well in a conduit, enter on a slant through an aperture in the bottom of the conductor housing, pass through a conductor seal and continue upwardly on a curved path through said conductor opening then over the top of the well casing and down into the well to electrical power to a submersible pump or other equipment therein and air and/or water passages for control and measurement purposes.

12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures WELL CAP AND SEAL THEREFOR This is a continuation of US. Pat. No. 793,453 filed Jan. 23, 1967 and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field of Invention This invention relates generally to a cap and conductor seal arrangement for water wells primarily those pumped with submerged motors and more particularly to a simple and inexpensive cap and seal arrangement which will accommodate the entrance of conductors into the well and provide a hermetic seal between said cap and the top of the well casing and a second hermetic seal for the conductors where they enter the well enclosure.

2. Description of Prior Art In all prior fluidtight well cap and conductor seal arrangements known to applicant, the joint or joints sealed are either complicated in shape or in the number of parts used, adding cost and subtracting reliability of the seal in either case. The principle object of this invention is to provide a relatively simple inexpensive, compact, reliable and easily serviced cap and conductor seal arrangement for a well in order that the upper portion of the well will be fluidtight to prevent entry of pollution even when deeply submerged during a flood.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION A cap and conductor seal arrangement for a well comprising a well casing having an upper portion extending out of the ground and a casing flange fastened thereon preferably eccentric to the well casing. The casing flange is provided with an opening of approximately the same diameter of the well casing and aligned therewith. The casing flange is further provided with a conductor opening for conductor passage beyond the radius of the circular opening. A cap member having a cap flange thereon adapted for mating engagement with the casing flange is removably mounted on such casing flange. A circular sealing means, preferably an O-ring seal, is positioned between said casing and cap flanges to provide a hermetic sea] at the joint. A conductor housing attached to said casing flange and to the well casing is provided. The conductors enter preferably on a slant through an aperture in the bottom of the conductor housing, pass through a conductor seal and said conductor opening and into the well to conduct electrical power to a submersible pump or other equipment therein and perhaps fluid for control and measurement purposes.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. I is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the well structure, showing the cap and seal arrangement proposed by this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the well with the cap installed thereon;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the well with the cap removed; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral indicates atubular well casing extending substantially below the normal ground surface G and terminating above the ground as clearly shown in the drawing.

A lift-out pipe 12 is positioned inside the well casing and extends down into the well where it is fastened to a discharge spool (not shown) which forms a part of a pitless well unit. Water is pumped by a submersible pump from the well to the discharge spool and out the casing outlet into the discharge pipe buried below the frost line. The pitless well unit and pump as such form no part of this invention and are thus not shown or described in detail. For a description of a pitless well unit of the type referred to above, reference is made to US. Pat. No. 3,373,819 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein.

Electrical power is carried to the pump by conductors 14, 16 and 18 from a source remote from the well. These conductors enter the casing through a fluidtight seal 54 and continue within the casing down to the pump. As indicated previously, this invention is particularly concerned with a simple and inexpensive cap and conductor seal arrangement which will accommodate the conductors and at the same time provide hermetic seals for both cap and conductors.

The cap and conductor seal arrangement of this invention includes a casing flange 20 mounted on the top of casing 10 preferably by welding as shown in FIG. 4 at reference numeral 30. The configuration of the casing flange 20 is best shown in FIG. 3. The casing flange 20 has a circular periphery 22 and a face 24 having a circular O-ring groove 26 therein. Casing flange 20 is also provided with a first opening 28 therethrough which is offset or eccentric with respect to the center of circular periphery 22. Opening 28 has the same diameter as and is aligned with the inside diameter of the casing 10.

Casing flange 20 is further provided with a conductor opening 32 preferably positioned directly opposite from the direction of offset of the circular opening 28. The opening conductor 32 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 provides an opening through which conductor members 14, 16 and 18 may pass. Such opening 32 is located outside the periphery of casing 10 to thus eliminate any possible interference between the conductors and the discharge spool in the well when such spool must be removed for any reason. In this regard, it is noted that in the usual installation the discharge spool (not shown) is of substantially the same diameter as the inside of the casing 10.

The top of the well casing is closed by means of a cap member 34 having a peripheral flange portion 36 with a face 38 dimensioned for mating relationship with the face 24 on flange 20. A means for hermetically sealing the casing flange 20 and the cap flange 36 includes an O-ring member 40 of resilient material mounted in groove 26 in face 24 of casing flange 20.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a shoulder portion 43 on casing flange 20 located adjacent the groove 26. Such shoulder portion extends upwardly from the face 24 of the casing flange 20 to thereby protect the O-ring when the cap member is removed from the casing for servicing of the equipment in the well.

The cap 34 is removably mounted on the casing flange 20 by means of a plurality of bolts 42 which, when tightened into place serve to compress O-ring member 40 and thereby provide a hermetic seal at the joint.

Preferably a wall opening 43 is provided in the casing wall which as shown in FIG. 1 is positioned in substantial alignment with conductor opening 32 in casing flange 20. A housing means 44 casing fastened to both flange 20 and casing 10 is provided to enclose both conductor opening 32 and easing wall opening 43 and is comprised of an angled wall member 46, two side walls 48 and 50 and a bottom wall 52 having a conductor aperture 53 therein a sealing arrangement 54 is provided in the conductor passage formed by housing means 44 and the conductor opening 32. The sealing arrangement 54 may be of any suitable construction and its particular design details form no part of this invention and will thus not be explained in detail herein. The significant feature of the conductor aperture 53 is that its axis is positioned at an angle with respect to the casing wall. This relationship serves to reduce the radical dimension of the conductor opening 32 in casing flange 20 required for a given diameter of conductor and correspondingly reduce the diameters required for cap flange 36, casing flange 20 and O-ring member 40 and, in addition, facilitates the burying of the conductors in the ground externally of the casing.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a radially extending locating bar member 56 fastened to lift-out pipe 12 and positioned for engagement in casing wall opening 43 as shown in FIG. 1. This combination of bar 56 and opening 43 serves to provide the proper angular position for the discharge spool (not shown) of the pitless unit which spool is fastened to the lower end of lift-out pipe 12.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that in using the combination defined above, a single circular O-ring may be employed to provide a hermetic seal between cap and easing flanges. This is accomplished with a minimum of parts and circular machined surfaces thereon.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cap and conductor seal arrangement for a well comprising in combination:

a well casing having an upper portion extending out of the ground;

a casing flange fastened onto said upper portion of said well casing, a first opening through said casing flange of approximately the same diameter as the inside diameter of said well casing and aligned therewith, said casing flange having a conductor opening for conductor passage beyond the radius of said opening;

a cap member having a cap flange thereon adapted for mating engagement with said casing flange;

a circular sealing means for providing a seal between said casing and cap flanges beyond the radius of said conductor opening;

fastening means for holding said casing and cap flanges together; and

housing means fastened to said casing flange around the outer periphery of said conductor opening and also fastened to said well casing to form with said conductor opening on a fluidtight entry passage for conductors, an aperture with slanting axis in said housing means for flanged entry of said conductors to reduce the diameters required by said casing and cap flanges and said circular sealing means, and conductor sealing means entirely beyond the diameter of said well casing and within said passage to prevent fluid entry into said well casing.

2. A cap and conductor seal arrangement according to claim 1 in which said flanges and circular sealing means are eccentric with respect to said first opening to reduce the diameter required for said flanges and said circular sealing means.

3. A cap and conductor seal arrangement according to claim 1 in which said casing flange has a circular groove therein and said circular sealing means is an O-ring located in said circular groove.

4. A cap and conductor seal arrangement according to claim 1 in which said casing flange has a shoulder portion which extends upwardly from the face of said flange to thereby protect said circular sealing means when said cap is removed.

5. A cap and conduit seal arrangement according to claim 1 in which said upper portion of said well casing has a wall opening located in substantial alignment with said conductor opening to reduce the diameters required for said flanges and said circular sealing means. i

6. A cap and conductor seal arrangement for a well having a pitless spool supported therein comprising in combination:

a tubular well casing having an upper portion extending out of the ground; I

a casing flange mounted on said upper portion of said well casing, said casing flange having a first opening therethrough substantially the same diameter as and aligned with the inside diameter of said well casing, said casing flange being further characterized by a conductor opening located beyond the radius of said opening;

a cap member having a cap flange thereon adapted for mating engagement with said casing flange;

a circular sealing means for providing a seal between said casing and cap flanges;

a fastening means for removably clamping said casing and cap flanges together; I a housing means fastened to said casing flange and said well casing to form with said conductor opening an entry passage for conductors, an aperture with slanting axis in said housing for slanted conductor entry of said conductors to reduce the diameters required by said casing and cap flanges and said circular sealing means; and

conductor sealing means entirely beyond the inside diameter of said well casing and within said passage to prevent fluid entry.

7. A cap and conductor seal arrangement according to claim 6 in which said casing flange has a shoulder portion which extends upwardly from the face of said flange to thereby protect said circular sealing means when said cap is removed.

8. A cap and conductor seal arrangement according to claim 6 in which said flanges and circular sealing means are eccentric with respect to said first opening to reduce the diameters required for said flanges and said circular sealing means.

9. A cap and conduit seal arrangement according to claim 6 in which said upper portion of said well casing has a wall opening located in substantial alignment with said conductor opening to reduce the diameters required for said flanges and said circular sealing means.

10. A cap and conductor seal arrangement according to claim 6 in which said casing flange has a circular groove therein and said circular sealing means is an O-ring located in said circular groove.

11. A cap and conductor seal arrangement in accordance with claim 9 in which said wall opening is adapted to engage a bar member fastened to the lift-out pipe to properly angularly position the pitless discharge spool in the well.

12. A cap and conductor seal arrangement for a well comprising in combination:

a well casing having an upper portion extending out of the ground;

an eccentric casing flange fastened onto said upper portion of said well casing, said casing flange having a first opening therethrough of approximately the same diameter as the inside diameter of said well casing and aligned therewith, said casing flange having a conductor opening for conductor passage beyond the radius of said opening on the side of the maximum overhang of said eccentric casing flange;

a cap member having a cap flange thereon adapted for mating engagement with said casing flange;

a circular sealing means for providing a seal between said casing and cap flanges beyond the radius of said conductor opening;

fastening means for holding said casing and cap flanges together; and

housing means fastened to said casing flange around the outer periphery of said conductor opening, and also fastened to said well casing to form with said conductor opening, an entry passage for conductors, an aperture in said housing means for entry of said conductors, and conductor sealing means within said passage to prevent fluid entry into said well casing.

Page 1 (22 g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF EQRRECTION Patent No. 3'645r332 v Dated February 29, 1972 Inventor s JOHN GORDON BAKER V It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown belcw:

- r v w IN THE TITLE 4 Delete "WELL CAP AND SEAL THEREFOR" and insert -WELL CAP AND CONDUCTOR SEAL ARRANGEMENT.

IN THE ABSTRACT Line 14, after "and" insert -to-.

Line 19, after "well to" insert conduct.

IN THE SPECIFICATION Column 1, line 1, delete "WELL CAP AND SEAL THEREFOR" and insert -WELL CAP AND CONDUCTOR SEAL ARRANGEMENT--.

Column 2, line 21, after "opening 28. The" insert conductor.

line 22, delete "conductor".

line 24, after "Such" insert conductor.

line 50, after "means 44" delete "casing".

line 50, after "both" insert -casing.

line 54, after "therein" insert into which a conductor conduit 55 may be fitted-.

Page 2 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,645,332 Dated February .29, 1972 Inventor) JOHN GORDON BAKER I It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

IN THE SPECIFICATION (Continued) Column 2, line 62, delete "radical" and insert radial-.,

IN THE CLAIMS Column 3, line 34, delete "flanged" and insert slanted- Signed and sealed this 19th day of September 1972:

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. Attesting Officer ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Commissioner of Patents 

1. A cap and conductor seal arrangement for a well comprising in combination: a well casing having an upper portion extending out of the ground; a casing flange fastened onto said upper portion of said well casing, a first opening through said casing flange of approximately the same diameter as the inside diameter of said well casing and aligned therewith, said casing flange having a conductor opening for conductor passage beyond the radius of said opening; a cap member having a cap flange thereon adapted for mating engagement with said casing flange; a circular sealing means for providing a seal between said casing and cap flanges beyond the radius of said conductor opening; fastening means for holding said casing and cap flanges together; and housing means fastened to said casing flange around the outer periphery of said conductor opening and also fastened to said well casing to form with said conductor opening on a fluidtight entry passage for conductors, an aperture with slanting axis in said housing means for flanged entry of said conductors to reduce the diameters required by said casing and cap flanges and said circular sealing means, and conductor sealing means entirely beyond the diameter of said well casing and within said passage to prevent fluid entry into said well casing.
 2. A cap and conductor seal arrangement according to claim 1 in which said flanges and circular sealing means are eccentric with respect to said first opening to reduce the diameter required for said flanges and said circular sealing means.
 3. A cap and conductor seal arrangement according to claim 1 in which saiD casing flange has a circular groove therein and said circular sealing means is an O-ring located in said circular groove.
 4. A cap and conductor seal arrangement according to claim 1 in which said casing flange has a shoulder portion which extends upwardly from the face of said flange to thereby protect said circular sealing means when said cap is removed.
 5. A cap and conduit seal arrangement according to claim 1 in which said upper portion of said well casing has a wall opening located in substantial alignment with said conductor opening to reduce the diameters required for said flanges and said circular sealing means.
 6. A cap and conductor seal arrangement for a well having a pitless spool supported therein comprising in combination: a tubular well casing having an upper portion extending out of the ground; a casing flange mounted on said upper portion of said well casing, said casing flange having a first opening therethrough substantially the same diameter as and aligned with the inside diameter of said well casing, said casing flange being further characterized by a conductor opening located beyond the radius of said opening; a cap member having a cap flange thereon adapted for mating engagement with said casing flange; a circular sealing means for providing a seal between said casing and cap flanges; a fastening means for removably clamping said casing and cap flanges together; a housing means fastened to said casing flange and said well casing to form with said conductor opening an entry passage for conductors, an aperture with slanting axis in said housing for slanted conductor entry of said conductors to reduce the diameters required by said casing and cap flanges and said circular sealing means; and conductor sealing means entirely beyond the inside diameter of said well casing and within said passage to prevent fluid entry.
 7. A cap and conductor seal arrangement according to claim 6 in which said casing flange has a shoulder portion which extends upwardly from the face of said flange to thereby protect said circular sealing means when said cap is removed.
 8. A cap and conductor seal arrangement according to claim 6 in which said flanges and circular sealing means are eccentric with respect to said first opening to reduce the diameters required for said flanges and said circular sealing means.
 9. A cap and conduit seal arrangement according to claim 6 in which said upper portion of said well casing has a wall opening located in substantial alignment with said conductor opening to reduce the diameters required for said flanges and said circular sealing means.
 10. A cap and conductor seal arrangement according to claim 6 in which said casing flange has a circular groove therein and said circular sealing means is an O-ring located in said circular groove.
 11. A cap and conductor seal arrangement in accordance with claim 9 in which said wall opening is adapted to engage a bar member fastened to the lift-out pipe to properly angularly position the pitless discharge spool in the well.
 12. A cap and conductor seal arrangement for a well comprising in combination: a well casing having an upper portion extending out of the ground; an eccentric casing flange fastened onto said upper portion of said well casing, said casing flange having a first opening therethrough of approximately the same diameter as the inside diameter of said well casing and aligned therewith, said casing flange having a conductor opening for conductor passage beyond the radius of said opening on the side of the maximum overhang of said eccentric casing flange; a cap member having a cap flange thereon adapted for mating engagement with said casing flange; a circular sealing means for providing a seal between said casing and cap flanges beyond the radius of said conductor opening; fastening means for holding said casing and cap flanges together; and housing means fastened to said casing flange arounD the outer periphery of said conductor opening, and also fastened to said well casing to form with said conductor opening, an entry passage for conductors, an aperture in said housing means for entry of said conductors, and conductor sealing means within said passage to prevent fluid entry into said well casing. 